Hello Michelle (yikerzikers)! It's good to see you posting. I'm finally now able to post. I had a little trouble with registering with the new forum conversion...my new username is: starz. I had to change it to re-register. My old username (we chatted a few times a while back) was falonna. (I love the new forum, though...it was worth the wait!) I hope you had a good time in Florida! Take Care! Happy Zoning! :D Donna (starz)

[color=blue:13110c969c]Hi Donna! Thanks for the "Welcome Back"! I had been lurking a bit on the forums since returning from vacation but there was so much bickering and back-biting that I didn't even feel like being a part of it. Plus, in addition to the fact that the period leading up to the Labor Day holiday is the busiest in my line of work (Pepsi), I had three kids to get ready for school...my plate was FULL. I hope that these new forums continue to be a place for non-intimidating exchanges of information! How is everything with you? Talk to you soon- Michelle[/color:13110c969c]

Hi Michelle! I, too, was lurking occasionally. The bickering, etc. was getting pretty ridiculous and senseless. I sure hope things do improve with this new format, etc. Things have been going quite well. I've been zoning right along. I'm now about 10 pounds away from my main goal weight...yeah! The going seems slower now, though. I actually would like to lose about 15 more to have a little 5 lb buffer weight to work with as I work to maintain eventually. Most importantly, I feel great! I've also started to take some PGFO which I think is giving me another burst of energy. It's particularly tough to get to sleep at night lately. Maybe I should leave some of my projects to that time of day, huh? (like sorting old photos, filing paperwork, things like that) My oldest child (5 yr old girl) has just started Kindergarten. She's now just finishing her second week. Things are going well for her overall, I think. It's been busy having a child in school! With your three, I'm sure you're well aware that there's a lot to keep track of! Even with just one in school so far, it seems like a lot...am I in school or is she??? :wink: I saw your website re: your business organizing things for people. That's great! I'm known to my friends, co-workers and family as a pretty organized person, too. For me, it's just the only way I know how to do things. It really helps me and saves time in the long run to plan ahead a little and have some systems in place in my life and in running our home. However, there are many areas I could improve...it just takes a little time. (as I look at my pile of filing I've been procrastinating on :? ) There's definitely always room for improvement :) I hope the busy times are calming down for you now, Michelle. Have a great weekend! I look forward to talking again soon! Take Care! :D Donna

[quote:d077915968="starz"]Things have been going quite well. I've been zoning right along. I'm now about 10 pounds away from my main goal weight...yeah! The going seems slower now, though. I actually would like to lose about 15 more to have a little 5 lb buffer weight to work with as I work to maintain eventually. Most importantly, I feel great! [/quote:d077915968] [color=indigo:d077915968]Hi Donna! That is SO GREAT!! You must be feeling wonderful! What an accomplishment. I am very jealous :) I am still 30 lbs away, but that is better than 80! I know that I am going to get there. I am not longer in "Plus-Size" clothing. That is a great feeling! My mom is a pretty "hip" dresser and gave me about a dozen pairs of her size 12 pants. I feel like I won the lottery. (She has also lost a bunch of weight and is now a size 6) Aren't kids great! I got in BIG trouble tonight because my daughter found one of her "projects" in the garbage. I told her that "mommy and daddy" can't keep everything forever, just the really special things. She told me that I cannot throw ANYTHING away. Everything is to go onto her bookshelf when it comes off the fridge. THAT'S going to take some special organizing skills :? You should have seen the look of horror on her face as she pulled it out of the garbage. The whole scene was so adorable. I am sure you know! Talk to you again, soon! ~Michelle[/color:d077915968]

Hi Michelle! :) OHHH, boy do I know what you mean about being in trouble with your daugher...that story sounds sooooo familiar! I've been caught in that same act on a number of occasions. :roll: Our daughter has been quite the little artist lately. So far, the wonderful works of art that don't make it into the "circular file" get placed in a couple of desk drawers that have been designated for that purpose. My intention has been to periodically go through those drawers and let my daughter choose a few pictures that she wants to keep. The difficulty for her is narrowing these down to a few...they're all so special to her in some way... This is a tough one. It sounds like you are doing fantastic with your weight loss, Michelle! Congratulations to you too! Really, I'm sure it will amaze you as it has me how quickly you will be within a few pounds of your goal. It seems like just yesterday that I had 30 more to go. You'll definitely get there...and soon! I'm so glad that you were able to get some of your mom's clothes. I've been lucky to have some friends at work who have been losing (or gaining) who have offered clothes to me along the way. It's been great! I currently wear anywhere between an 8 and a 12 depending on the brand...and I, too, am sooooo glad to be out of the plus size stores! I still get the catalogs from those stores in the mail. They are quickly tossed in the trash now with no hesitation :lol: I also recently (within the past few weeks) checked out the new Good Will store near East Towne....I was very pleasantly surprised! They had some really nice clothes there! Lots of name brands in very good condition for extremely reasonable prices! I saw many things I wanted there that day but ended up holding back a bit and just buying a new winter coat for about $20! I had been looking at a similar style that was new (at some other stores) for over $150 or $200! I'm definitely going back to that Good Will store the next time we need some more clothes... I love it when I can find great quality at such bargain prices!...especially when you're losing weight at the rate we are and don't wear any one size for any great length of time...I'm not complaining, though...it's a great problem to have :-)...but can be expensive! Talk soon! Donna (starz)

[quote:c10257c8fa="starz"]I, too, was lurking occasionally. The bickering, etc. was getting pretty ridiculous and senseless. I sure hope things do improve with this new format, etc.[/quote:c10257c8fa] :arrow: Amen to that!! I find that the new forums have controlled a lot of the abusive posts and I agree these forums ROCK!! :D :lol: :P

"So far so good!!" :D eom starz (Donna)

Sorry to butt in, but... Have you checked out the consignment shop on Odana (West Side between Whitney Way and Gammon) called[color=red:752d53072c] the Pink Poodle?[/color:752d53072c] They have some nice stuff, and decent prices. Saw lots of really nice suits for about 50$ if you need career type stuff, and when they don't fit you can sell them back!!! Also dresses, casual, winter coats, and some new items (Coach purses and the like). Brands like Jones New York, Casual Corner, Dana Buchman and even a Richard Tyler. I am tempted, and may take the next paycheck in there and find something new. Currently all my suits are still being held hostage at the dry cleaner until that next paycheck comes in... ;) Admitted Shopaholic from Madison, Ronica :mrgreen:

Hi Ronica! Thanks for reminding me about the Pink Poodle...I was there a few months back. They did have some nice stuff....and everything was in very good to excellent condition. I just personally thought the prices were a little high when I was there. It's hard for me to spend on used name-brand stuff the same amount I would spend on new non-name brand stuff. The label itself isn't all that important to me (although I don't mind having it). It's the fit and the style that are important to me, really. I will pay a little more for a label if great quality and fit come along with it. They did have some really nice stuff as I remember. It may be worthwhile to check it out again when I'm in that area...especially now that I'm able to wear some more stylish stuff! 8) ...without looking completely foolish...that is. l will definitely pay a little extra for something that really grabs me. Off the subject of clothes, but have you been to Tuesday Morning which is right next door to the Pink Poodle? Excellent deals there sometimes on housewares and decor type stuff! I bought some pans, etc. there once since starting the zone. I absolutely love my one nonstick Analon saute pan I purchased there. I'm pretty new to doing much cooking since before starting this 40-30-30 stuff (it has been over a year now so I'm gettin' there). I've been learning like crazy and loving it! (my husband had done most of the cooking previously...so he's been a wonderful resource when I'm trying to figure out how to prepare new things). We also have a book called "How to Cook Everything" by Mark Bittman. It's been a fantastic resource too! Sorry to be throwing so many tangents at you, Yikes! Have a great day, Ronica! :-) Donna (starz).

Hi Donna! Yeah, the prices aren't awesome, but 50$ for a wool suit is a bargain, especially when it's lined and tailored well. I would much rather have a quality-made suit than a cheap knock off that won't look crisp after a few wearings. It's easy dressing--add a blouse and boots and you're done, without having to worry about VPL, ironing, matching, etc. I shop a lot at Casual Corner, as their stuff is great quality and they have awesome sales. I guess I like being a little dressed up, looking professional. I'm not really a jeans and t-shirt girl, and since I teach I do have to dress up each day. I think the Pink Poodle has quite a bit more in stock now than they did a few months ago. I was in a few weeks ago, and the stock was much better than the first time I visited. I do stop in Tues. AM occasionally, especially for sheets. Got some that are 400+ thread count for $40 for a queen bed, and they feel like silk! Regarding the pans, I have the All-Clad nonstick done by Emiril Lagasse (birthday present from my Dad) and really enjoy it. His large "everyday" pan especially is great for Zoning because it's huge (holds lots of veggies and is about 18" in diameter) and has straight sides about 3 inches high, so things don't go flying out the side when stir-frying. It transfers heat really well (even though it's a lot bigger than the burner), and things don't stick, which is nice. It's really heavy, though, and requires hand-washing, but since I cook, Jeff does the dishes. ;) Boy, I really do sound like a shopaholic, don't I? Or an advertisement... sorry bout that! I am a little manic about finding just the right thing, so I tend to know what's available. (Hence my Michelle/Woodman's discussions.) Yeah, it's called Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. :) Well, I best be off--it's 6:55 and I haven't even thought about dinner. Woops! Ronica

Hi there again, Ronica! I am so jealous that you have the Emeril pans...They look great! I'd love to add some of his pans to our "collection". Thanks for the tip on the "everyday pan"...that sounds great! My husband and I both enjoy watching Emeril's show occasionally too. I find that most of the time I prefer not to go out of the zone much. However, when i do, I prefer a really good reason to do so...such as Emeril's recipes. I had some sort of oooey-gooey chocolate cupcake thing from his recipes for my birthday last year. It was amazing. I felt almost like I was being electricuted after eating it, though... (quite a carb buzz :shock:). I just might have to choose one of his amazing desserts for my birthday this year again. I haven't been in Casual Corner for a while...I do usually dress slightly more casually than what I remember them providing. However, since losing so much weight, I'm having fun re-defining my style. It's a work in progress...I'll have to wander in Casual Corner again sometime in the near future and check it out again! Who knows? Shopping has been so much fun! Believe me, I love shopping too! I'm constantly giving people advice about what products are available, etc...I love to hear what you have found too! I was just at Sams today on the West-Side. They have some unbelievable deals there. I like to get their Fruit2-O flavored water there (much less expensive when purchased by the case). Also, Lunch to go Tuna packs (also available elsewhere for just slightly more, I think). Also, some Quesadillas available in their frozen section in a green and yellow box that I can just add about an ounce of pre-cooked diced chicken breast to in order to balance when I need a quick lunch or supper (sorry I don't know the brand off-hand...I can check later if you are interested). I also bought some Dr. Phil's bars today. I really like them a lot, personally. I've only tried the toffee ones so far. I wish I had bought more. They're about $1.23 or something like that each when purchased in packs of 12 at Sams. Maybe even worth the little extra cost (I'm used to paying less than $1 for zone and balance bars)...supposedly, some of the profits from the Dr. Phil bars go to preventing childhood obesity. I'm all for that! Sams also has zone and balance bars for something like 88 and 77 cents a piece when purchased in 12 packs. Many more things too! I wish I had a big freezer so I could buy more of their bulk items and keep them on hand...I'm going to have to plan the purchase of an extra freezer into our budget soon, I think. At Woodmans, I bought that Bella Vita Low-Carb Soy Protein pasta (I think you and Michelle had talked about it previously). My husband and I tried a recipe with it that turned out pretty good! We used black olives, vinegar, olive oil, tomatoes, oregano, rosemary, salt and pepper, and a little parmesan cheese on top. It has enough protein right in the pasta! It turned out really pretty good! We're going to keep working on the recipe to make it even better. I was pretty impressed with that pasta, though. I thought it would taste like cardboard but it was actually much better than I had expected. We also had a little fruit salad on the side made of sliced strawberries and chopped apple with cinnamon on top to get enough good carbs. What are some of your favorite recipes or products to use in the zone, Ronica? Have you ventured onto the FormulaZone website much? I have found some unbelieveable recipes on that site. Some are already extended family favorites!...even for those not following the zone! Did I read somewhere that you are a band or orchestra teacher? That's really neat! One of the very most influential people in my life was one of my band directors. I was very involved in band all throughout jr high and highschool. I was in our Summer Marching program for 5 years (saxophone, colorguard, and drum major and oboe in concert competition). I was involved in music quite a bit in some of my college years too...(I played the oboe at that time too). Sorry to ramble on so much... Talk to you soon! I hope supper went off without a hitch for you! :-) Donna (starz)

Thanks for the reply, Donna! It's fun to read! I enjoy using the Emeril pans, although the little fry pan (big enough for about 2 eggs) is a little unbalanced, but the rest are great. It was quite a wonderful gift to receive! Since my Mom died, my dad has usually given us money, but he had just found the lady who last year became his wife, and she's really perceptive. When we were in a store and I said I'd love to have those, she remembered and got me a 10-piece set for my birthday! I had worn out the Tfal we got for our wedding (note: do not put non-stick in the dishwasher!) The everyday pans are great for just about everything, plus you can use them in the oven if you want. I also use an enamelware dutch oven my mother in law gave me (she got it for her wedding, back in '68, and handed it to me. She's not a very prolific cook!) I cook a lot, but like my own mother, I don't really follow many recipes. I guess it's all pretty experimental, but I rarely make anything inedible, and often it turns out well. It's the artist in me, I guess! I do love to do "research" by watching the Food Network, and reading cooking magazines. My favorite is Cook's Illustrated. It is a beautiful magazine which accepts no advertising (they have a PBS show as well with the editor, Christopher Kimball. He's also done appearances on Martha). Their philosophy is to try to make the best possible version of something, and then they test and retest combinations until they come up with the "perfect" version of a particular recipe, so it's kind of like Consumer Reports for cooking. They also test products, and will list findings, so you can buy the best quality without having to try everything yourself. They have a website, www.cooksillustrated.com, and should have a few recipes on it. I don't mean that they are always zone-friendly, but I have really enjoyed the recipes I've tried, and their kitchen tips and ratings of products are spot-on. Their chicken caesar salad was wonderful--mild but perfect, and I craved it for a week after eating it. Of course, it used real eggs and anchovies! I also like the pasta, and often use it for a quick dinner. Jeff can easily make dinner with a jarred sauce jazzed up with some veggies, so it's an option for nights when I am extra busy or not feeling well. We've both felt well with it, and use it about twice a month. I do notice that the leftovers really expand, though, so the amount I took for lunch one day (3 blocks) had expanded so much that I could only eat 1/2 of it! I wasn't hungry until 5, so I guess it didn't do me any harm! If you go into Casual Corner, I'd suggest heading straight for the back of the store. Their sales are very good, and stuff moves quickly as new items come in. Last fall I found a charcoal grey suit (longer 3 button jacket and side-zip pants) in wool for $50.00. Also, if you have their credit card, you get 5% off every item you buy. My record (day after Christmas) was to buy $480.00 worth of clothes for $114.00. Nice! I am guessing that you don't have to dress up much for work (what do you do?), but it's a lifesaver for me. Their Collectibles collection of suit pieces is nice--although rarely on sale--but the pieces all work together and don't wrinkle. I may need new pants, but the tank dresses I have will still work, and the jackets. I am a Band Director--I work for a non-profit company that contracts to private schools in the Madison and Northeast Ohio areas, called Musical Youth, Inc. I teach at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Parish School in Madison, and St. Francis Xavier School in Cross Plains. I teach kids from 4th grade through 8th grade. I really love my job, and like the private schools. They are really family oriented, and the people are very nice. It's nice to teach in a school where the kids are held accountable, and the parents and administration will back you up! I love teaching in a school where I get to teach, rather than disciplining 80% of the time. The kids are really great, and they want to be there (ours is a tuition-based band program, so they have to pay to be in the band, this is what pays my salary), so for the most part I don't have discipline problems. I haven't been to Sams here, not a member, but will have to check it out. I do buy ZP bars at walmart, as they are cheapest in town, but sounds like Sams is even better! People have told me they also have an excellent butcher. Maybe following the next paycheck! As for Supper on Friday, we had cold supper--I raided the fridge and set out sliced lean ham, turkey, cheese, German whole-grain rye bread, fruit, and olives, and we each had a glass of wine. Very nice. I am waiting for my husband to get home from work now (he had to run in to check an experiment) and then we are going to drive out to Spring Green. I've packed pretty much the same in the picnic basket (+ broccoli/carrots and dip, sun-dried tomatoes in oil, iced tea and Wisconsin apples) and we'll have lunch out there. (We slept until 10 today, so lunch will be quite late!) We're going out to check status on his wedding ring (losing weight made him have to resize it!) and a pendant for me that a jeweler out there is designing (resetting a stone I had). We had her make our wedding rings last year (I developed a gold allergy :!: and he couldn't wear his anymore--tooooo small, but I think he overcompensated and made the new one way too big!), and we love them so we're having her reset my sapphire necklace (gold) into a new silver pendant. She does really unique designs and was great to work with. (Her name is Karen Davidson, and she owns Cabuchon gems and jewelry in Spring Green.) Spring Green is a really neat little town, an artists community with lots of cool shops and a great slow-food cafe/gift shop. It's a nice day trip, and Peck's farmers market is on the way. Jeff is working with a company out there, and if things go well, may work for them when he finishes his PhD. We really love that area, it's just gorgeous. Especially when the leaves start to turn! Oh, if you are at Woodman's, they have some Wisconsin apples in #3 bags for $1.79. I think I got McIntosh, they also had Cortland. Anyway, they don't smell good (that's kind of what I look for) but the price was good and they were local, so I got a bag. Am I ever glad! Wonderful, sweet-tart apples that are very juicy. Not super-big, so I am guessing they are each 1C. I am planning to get more, maybe make applesauce, although I HATE peeling things! (I even cheat when making lefse!) Well, I better get moving! Sorry to babble so much. :D Have a great day! Ronica

Hi Ronica! :D ...just checking in...it's getting late so I don't have much time to respond in detail to your great post. I have to work tomorrow. To answer your question re: what I do...I am a registered nurse in the Heart Center at Meriter Hospital...Inpatient Cardiac Rehab... I do a lot of teaching with cardiac patients and their families. I work part-time (about 2 days one week and 3 the next). I, too, love my job. However, I would love to be home even more with my 5 year old girl (now in Kindergarten) and my 1 year old little boy...since I'm often working with patients in the hospital bending around tubing, etc...I tend to dress pretty casually, but nice. Suits would be a little over-the-top and pretty uncomfortable in this line of work. However, i do enjoy combining comfort with style. It's been fun. I think my current favorite line of clothes is Lands End. They have a nice range of styles for what I need and enjoy to wear right now. Everything is just fantastic quality too!...and the shipping is lightning fast from their website when i order that way...the Land's End Inlet on the west side has some great deals sometimes too! It sounds like you've got a really great job too! I'll try to respond to your post in more detail at a later time. For now, unfortunately, I really should try to get some sleep. :( I'll try to get back to this soon! :-) Donna.

Have a good sleep! Ronica :D

Hey GUYS! My hip daughter tells me that there is a really cool 8) new resale shop on the west side called "Plato's Closet". Have you heard of it? She said it is chock full of name brand clothes. She looks for Abercrombie, AE, Limited, etc...Of course, I don't buy this stuff for her :lol: that is what her grandma and aunts are for. I do the clearance racks at Target and Kohls :wink: But I might consider buying second hand. You'll probably get a chance to check it out before me, if you do...please let me know! Happy Shopping! ~Michelle

Hi Ronica. Thanks for the well-wishes on my sleep. Its been a little tough lately. I almost always stay up too late lately. I think that the evening (after the kids get to bed) is just finally a time that I can do some things on my own or with my husband. Usually, I don't want to go to sleep and miss this nice quiet time. Also, recently, I started having some trouble falling to sleep once I finally got to bed. Since that problem started showing up, I started taking 2 PGFO per day instead of 3-4. So far, it has seemed to help. I do fall asleep much easier once I get to bed. I don't know if I was taking too much fish oil or not (no blood test yet...maybe someday). I feel good now though (except for still being tired simply because I stay up way too late :shock: ...This is completely my own fault. One day, I'll finally convince myself to get to bed on time! Thank you for the cooks Illustrated magazine and website reference....sounds really good. I'll have to check out that chicken caesar salad! Also, thanks for the tip re: the apples at Woodman's. I do need to get a list together again (yet another reason to stay up too late!) and get out to Woodmans (or another grocery store) in the next couple of days. It sounds like you've got strong support from your husband re: the zone...and he's been following it too?...that's great! Did you start first or did he? Does he follow the zone just so he gets to share in the delicious meals? My husband probably eats balanced about 1/2 the time mostly out of convenience because that's what I'm eating. He has never had any major weight problem. (The tall and thin type). However, he has definately toned up since we've changed our way of eating around here. We're all so much healthier! I look forward to talking with you again soon! If I wrote all I'm thinking to tell you or ask you about, this post would just be WAY too long! Also, I haven't heard much from Michelle recently...Michelle? Are you out there???? Let's talk soon! :-) Donna (falonna)

Sorry, my old username (before the new forum set-up) was falonna...I was just typing a little too quick! Sorry for any confusion. :-) Starz :D :D :D

WOW! We must have all been on-line at about the same time! Michelle, you must have read my mind! I was just posting a message to Ronica and asking about where you have been!...then I went upstairs to help my husband with something...when I came back down , I saw your post which you must have made just before I posted to Ronica or something! Were your ears ringing??? I hadn't heard of that new resale shop yet. I'll have to check it out sometime soon. Thanks! How have you been doing? I wanted to let both of you know (if you haven't already heard) about a B&B in West Bend, WI (about 1 1/2 hours away) which supposedly serves all zone meals. I just found out about this. It's called the Shalom house. There's also a woman who holds Zone Weekends and teaches the zone to people hands-on (cooking, blocks, etc.) from Friday eve 5:30 or 6:00 p.m. to Sunday 3pm. I'm seriously considering going sometime soon either for just a regular overnight or two or for the zone weekend just to learn even more, sharpen my skills with blocks, and meet more people interested in the zone, etc. My mom is interested. My sister might be as well....maybe I could convince my husband to go? Or, wouldn't that be a neat place for the three of us to meet someday? It might be pretty tough to coordinate our three schedules, though....but sounds fun, doesn't it? I hope I'm not sounding too pushy here. I really don't mean to. I realize we don't really know eachother well. It's just been so fun "talking" to both of you! It might be fun to actually meet someday since we live so close....or maybe you would rather just check the place out on your own or with your husbands or someone...I really don't mean to offend. You may want to check out the website re: the facility! It sounds like a very relaxing, tranquil sort of place. http://www.dianelipman.com/shalom/index.htm I have a little more info from the woman who runs the zone weekends (she's zone certified--Kristine W.) Sorry, I don't remember her last name off-hand...but she's on the list of certified people on the drsears site. I could e-mail you the "brochure" I received from her if you're interested. It looks like the next zone weekend is the weekend of October 11th....and there are more schedule just about every month for the next few months. The whole zone weekend including lodging, food, and instruction is $275 or $250 if you sign up with another person. The overnights are something more like $90 which includes breakfast. Have a great day! :-) Donna (starz)

[color=blue:d1c4cee503]Hi Donna--[/color:d1c4cee503] [color=indigo:d1c4cee503]No, my ears weren't ringing, but I was feeling guilty for neglecting my "Zone" friends :( I have been really busy around the house. Also, I have been helping my mom organize her bedroom closets. We 're doing it to the max...new closet systems in both of her two closets. It is a lot of work, but it is the kind of work that I LOVE! That B&B sounds really cool! I would be interested in going, too. No, you are not being pushy. And, no, I am not offended. We are friends and friends get togoether,right? Meeting sometime would be fun! I'd love it if you would email me the brochure.[/color:d1c4cee503] [color=red:d1c4cee503]I dropped another size this week, size 10 now! :mrgreen: When I started the Zone in February, I thought about taking a "before" picture but I didn't want to jinx myself. ( I am superstitious about very little, but that I am :?) Now I wish that I had. I'd put a "before" and "current" picture on my website. I'd like everyone to see, like Jim did, how GREAT the Zone is!!![/color:d1c4cee503] [color=violet:d1c4cee503]Talk again soon! ~Michelle[/color:d1c4cee503]

I don't know where to start, ladies--can you believe we're up to 2 pages??? We rock! :mrgreen: I've driven by Plato's closet, it's attached to the far west side branch of the UW Credit Union (across from Target) and will have to stop. I have some rebates to deposit anyway... I am often a Target clearance shopper as well. They have really updated their clothes in the last two years, so I can find a lot of cute stuff there! I got the new Isaac Mizrahi suede skirt--it's adorable (only $40! for suede!!!) and (dum da dum DAHHHH!!!) A SIZE 8!!! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord and Dr. Sears, too! I am a little frustrated lately, haven't seen any real weight loss in a while, but am really trying to get there. I keep on this because I can really count on my energy, which makes a big difference, but I want the plateau to break, too! Do you have any tips? Don't worry, not offended bout the b&b, sounds great! I'll have to look it up. We could always meet for decaf sometime... :) Or, shopping??? :lol: About my husband--he was really skeptical and a bit resistant at first. I started this when he went on an internship with Purina in St. Louis for 7 weeks (gave me time to start without any negativity in the house). When he came home he was not happy for a while, but once he lost about 8 lbs. he didn't seem to mind! He's not 100% faithful, but usually is a hand-eye guy at least. Every now and then he eats poorly (usually involving beer and brats) but gets back on the horse when he can. He's really slimming down, and has gone down a pants size. His gut no longer hangs over his belt, so that's pretty encouraging! As a scientist, he was really skeptical, but doing this has proven to him that it works, and that it really was a problem with insulin and blood sugar highs and lows. So it's been fun for both of us to do this together, and a lot easier. (Although, after I had a rough day, he did bring me a pint of Godiva ice cream! Consider this my carb pig out of the month-- I didn't eat it all though! :wink: ) Well, he's home from taking the dog for a walk, so I better go talk to him. I had to work late tonight (Honor Band rehearsal) so didn't get home until 9P. Oh, Donna--I can totally relate on the evening time thing. Sometimes Jeff forces me to go to bed! It's hard to sleep when you have a lot to do. Maybe make a list, then pick 2 or 3 things, and when they're done, go to bed? I know it's tough once you get on a roll... Have a great day tomorrow! Ronica

Hi Girls! It's just so much fun reading both of your posts! Congratulations to both of you on your new sizes! Whooohooo! You must be looking pretty snazzy! I'm currently fitting in anywhere from an 8 to a 12 pants depending on the brand. Most of the time, 12s are a little on the loose side lately :D I'd love to someday be a solid 6...or maybe just a solid 8... We'll see. I'm just thrilled to be anywhere near the sizes I'm in now. It's hard for me to believe I've done it...and so easily! Unreal... About hitting plateaus...I'm not sure I have a real solid answer for you, Ronica. Except that I have seemed to hit plateaus more and more often as I've gotten closer and closer to my goal. The plateaus seem to last longer than they used to too. But, then, always, when I least expect it, I see the weight start to drop off again. The plateaus are probably somewhat due to monthly hormones, somewhat due to water retention, and ? somewhat due to the body just trying to get used to the new weight for a while. ???...just hang in there!!!... Also, I've heard it recommended over and over to up your physical activity to help speed up the process...i.e. the often dreaded e-word. (exercise). ... Maybe you are already doing really well with that... It really is time for me to push that aspect of my health-kick in gear. I've been working on convincing myself to really incorporate a strong exercise schedule for quite sometime...this is huge behavior modification stuff for me... I've made humungous changes over the past year and my overall activity has increased through the roof...now it's time to schedule in exercise on a more-strict, regular basis to give my health even more of a boost. I've also heard on this forum (as you probably have too) that upping your fat and decreasing your carb can help some people get out of a plateau....also that often the #s lbs.-wise don't always change but you will notice your clothes fitting more loosely....I'm sure you've probably heard most of this before. It would be great to meet both of you someday. I'm assuming you both work full-time M-F? Would an evening or weekend be better for you sometime? My schedule varies but I do often have a lot of free time during the week (day or evening) and often on the weekends too. I may need to bring my 1 or 5 year old along (or both) depending on the day/time if that's o.k...Re: the decaf idea...I haven't tried the new coffee shop (is it called "Cool Beans" or something?) near the Princeton club on the East Side yet. That could be fun...although, I'd be glad to meet anywhere that would be more convenient for both of you. I don't mind a little drive if the west-side is closer for you. Michelle, I e-mailed you some more info. re: the zone weekend. I don't think I was able to send the attachment of the brochure to you through this site, though. Let me know. I could send it directly from my home e-mail address if you want to provide your e-mail address in a reply to my e-mail just sent. Also, Michelle, the closet organizing project you're doing sounds great! I'd love to see some before and after pictures of that project! ...Yet another thing on my to-do list is to at least add some more shelving (or drawers, etc.) to help improve the organization of our master bedroom closet. Right now, I'd be a little embarrassed to show it to you, I think, Michelle. :wink: Here I am up too late again...I do have a little excuse, though...I was at a presentation tonight being given by a Physician's Assistant that I work with re: risk factors for heart disease and use of statins, etc... It was at Johnny Delmonico's just off the square. Very nice place. There were about 30-40 Cardiac-Rehab related Health Care Professionals in attendance. At one point toward the end of the presentation, someone asked what the presenter thought of the low-carb, high-protein diets. He basically said that for people that need to lose a great deal of weight, if they choose to do Atkins or something like that to get some weight off at first, he's o.k. with that...as long as something is motivating them and working for them. (he was referring to people >300 lbs) He then went on to say that "we have a shining example of someone here who has lost a great deal of weight, >120 lbs, right Donna?...let's all give her a round of applause..." I just about died!...It's a good thing the room was a little dark so they couldn't see my bright red face. Yikes! I was sure to clarify so everyone could hear that I am not and have not been following a "low-carb" diet. Later, a couple of the people at the presentation came up to me to ask me more about the zone. I swear, I write down the zone and formula books for people at least about 5 or 6 times a week! I think I'm just going to have the info printed on little business cards soon!...or on a T-shirt? :lol: I should be making a little commission on this, right? :lol: Actually, I'm happy to share what I can so others can benefit as I have. It was a great presentation and a really enjoyable night. Take care, you two... We'll talk again soon! Donna. :D

Hello, ladies! Glad to hear that plateaus eventually level off. I am trying, although I just had to eat another block snack as my husband will be late for dinner again... I am also aiming for "single digit sizes". Six would be great, but 8 is fine too. Right now Jeans are usually a 12, but other pants are a 10. If you need dress pants for cheap, Old Navy has some that run around 25-29 bucks, and look great on. I like the traditional cut--very slimming too. Just stay away from the plaid! :lol: I've had some people ask what I'm on, but I haven't had such a dramatic change (Good for you!!! :D ). Overall, I would like to get into the 120's--haven't been there since I was 12 so it's quite a goal. I was 158 when I started, now hovering around 147. Would love to be in the 120's, but my LBM is 105. I don't know if we are supposed to shoot for that, or if that's what we would be if we had absolutely no body fat, which I don't want because we do want to start a family when Jeff is done with his PhD (next December??) . Do you know about this? I would also like to not feel bad around my sister, who eats absolute garbage, worries incessantly about her weight, and hovers between a size 2, 4 and 6. And she COMPLAINS when she's not a 2!!!! She's too self-absorbed to realize she is making me feel like crap when she does this, even when I tell her in those exact words. She also doesn't understand why her two best friends (who are both very large women, probably 280+) are depressed, and thinks they should be able to deal with it when she %^&*itches about her weight. Puh-leaze! It's amazing how mentally sick our body image can make us. I have tried to help her, in many ways, but you can't fix people when they don't see what's wrong. :cry: Overall I am much happier with my body image. I feel better, have more energy, and can do more. I'm not a big exerciser (unless you count my tour around West Towne after school today! 8) ), but do walk 4-5 times a week for 2 miles (dog insists). Speaking of shopping...:), The Limited and Express start a "big" sale (their words) tomorrow. Limited had 80% off signs up. I may stop in... :lol: I love being able to wear more tailored things, and a little sexier, too. I'm getting checked out a lot more, too, which is a boost! Plus, my husband doesn't get jealous--he's actually more proud when I do get checked out! (he's pretty cool! He was delighted to tell me on the phone a few minutes ago that his friend noticed his weight loss and told him he was "so skinny". 8) ) Well, I would love to meet some time, for decaf or whatever! I teach M-F(8-3), and do work Tues. night, Thursday until 5:15, and Saturday from 9-1 (Sat. I am on campus at UW, I work with the Wisconsin Youth Symphonies.) Maybe some Saturday afternoon meet somewhere downtown? (Farmer's market is on until Nov. 1) I am done at 1 every Saturday... Just an idea. :) If you want to email me directly, my address is clarinetpower@hotmail.com. I usually check it daily, and can give you phone #'s using that venue. :mrgreen: Well, I better get moving--talk more soon! Ronica

Good Evening, Ladies! How are you both this everning?? You are right, Donna, I am thrilled with my weight loss and my new, smaller pant size. I started out at 195 lbs at my a.m. weighing on Feb 6th, 2003, which means closer to 200 lbs in reality. I am now 145 lbs. The lowest weight I remember weighing, as an adult, is 155 lbs. I got down to that weight 7 years ago on the Phen-Fen "diet" drugs. Before that I only remember a weigh-in in 6th grade for phy-ed. I was 126 lbs. I know that in high school I wore size 13 pants. I don't remember what I weighed, too traumatic, I guess :wink: At any rate, I am now wearing some of the pants that I hung onto from the Phen-Fen wieght loss (those are getting baggy). And that size is smaller than what I wore in high school. YEAH!! I am 37 now, so I have struggled with my weight for a very long time. I wish that I had heard of the Zone when it first came out! I can only guess what my goal weight should be by going by height-weight charts. I think anywhere between 115 and 125 is normal for my 5'2" height. However, since I have never been at that weight as an adult, I'll see when I get there :lol: And I will!! I told you, Donna, I am going to look like Demi Moore in "G.I. Jane" :) The character she played in the movie became so elitely (sp) athletic with such a low BF% that she stopped having periods. I would love to be a size 4 or less. I am muscular so I don't think that I would look sickly like some people do when they get that small. I too can't believe how relatively easy this has been. Except for the uncontrollable cravings the week before my period, the weight loss has been effortless!! Truly! I have not hit any plateaus yet that weren't self-inflicted :shock: I think that I mentioned before that I am not disgusted with my body anymore, so "took a break" at 165 lbs and then again at 155 lbs. I followed the diet about 95% of the time to maintain my loss, but that other 5% kept me from losing further. I am back to strict zoning again for almost 3 weeks now, and down 10 more lbs. I want to get to my goal before Christmas. However, truth is, at my last annual exam (come on we all love them :wink: ) my doctor addressed concerns about my body mass index. She ordered blood tests, which I never took (I regret that now, too, for comparison reasons again) and said I should lose weight or risk health conditions associated with being as overweight as I was. That was last August. I denied that I was THAT overweight for several months. Then I put on another 20 lbs during the first part of winter. I got to the point where I refused to buy pants larger than size 20, so I had to FINALLY do something!!! To make a long story longer... :lol: I have my annual exam scheduled for Nov 10th and I want to be as close to my goal weight as possible so I can throw it in my doctors' face. I say that because she took the tone (that most "thin" people take) that fat people are fat because they have no self-control, we are just glutonous pigs. She laughed in disbelief when I told her that I didn't eat fast-foods, fried foods, junk foods, candy etc. I know now that it was too many breads and grains and not enough fruits and vegetables. DUH, I was following the FDA food pyramid :evil: Then I'll switch doctors 8) Ronica, here are my suggestions to help you with your plateau. I find that I have to be VERY strict with myself about consuming my weight (in ounces) of water EVERYDAY or I don't loose that day. Also, I have tweaked my protein-carb ratio a bit. I would say that I am closer to a 1:1 ratio. Seven grams of carbs for every 7 grams of protein. I have not adjusted the fat grams at all. This has helped me continue my weight loss at a very nice steady pace of 1 1/2 lbs per week. Between work and family I have not been able to stick, for any length of time, to an exercise routine. But I am sure that would help, too, like Donna said. I think that after the Farmer's Market sounds like a GREAT place to meet, or anyplace really! I work M-F and take care of the family stuff in the evening, but weekends are usually fairly open. We are on a tight budget so our weekends are usually pretty low-key. Donna, I never got anything from you about the B & B. My email address is tengotodo@tds.net. I neglected to take before pictures of my mother's closets. I didn't really think that she was going to let me follow through with the designs that I made. She has a way about her, mother-daughter thing you know, and I was sure that she was going to change everything. She believes that she is organized, but is NOT! She was trying very hard to put things back in a manner that was going to bring her right back to chaos. Surprisingly, both closets look just how I designed them and she loves them. I will get "After" pictures. Everyone has the same embarrassment issue. I take on projects with excitement, the messy-er the better!! I know that everyone has their own unique talents. Organizing cannot be everyones'. OH MY GOD, Donna, if I had been you I would have died at the presentation. Putting someone on the spot like that without asking permission first is very rude. Did you say anything afterwards to the person? I am sure it was meant as the sincerest of compliments, but still. I remember having a friend who took out his ID card at a bar. He had lost over 100 lbs before any of us knew him and his ID had the "before" picture of him on it. Everyone at the table was making fun of his size and how fat he used to be. I remember thinking "He is still the same person, those words are still hurtful!" Sometimes people don't think first. I, too, have written down the books and website, more times than I can count, for interested people who have watched my success along the way. We do deserve a cut!! :P Ronica, all of the pants that my mother gave me are "Jones of New York". I am not very fashion conscious( jeans and t-shirts) I had never heard of them, but these pants are great!! They are very comfortable, fit great and are very flattering. I will buy more as I shrink! I have a cousin like your sister. I feel your pain! There is a lot of eye rolling in our family when we get together and she starts her "poor me" routine. That is great for your husband, being called skinny!! It is also great that you two are doing it together. My husband is 6'1" and 270 lbs. He started the zone with me and made it through the weekend (I started on a Thursday). He said he was hungry all the time and quit. He is a smoker, too. It is very hard to stand by and keep my mouth shut, but I know that he's got to want to do it for himself. He is not going to change because of my nagging! I was at one of my accounts last week, talking at the counter with the manager, and I picked up one of those "mini" Cow Pies chocolate candies off the counter and was looking at it. I hadn't seen them before. Anyway, a customer who was checking out at the next cash register took it out of my hand and said, "Empty calories, that's all these are." and then looked at me and said, "Well, that's no problem for you (ME!! :lol: ) but I can't have this stuff" I said to myself, "Oh, if you only knew!!" I still can't get over people telling me that I am getting skinny!! Or that the wind is going to take me away. Of course, I know that it is in comparison to what I was, but it still feels GREAT! I am sure you both know! Let's make a plan to meet soon! ~Michelle